Chapter 247
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 247
Chapter Title: Always Be Careful
Namgung Hwi silently gazed at Namgung Ji-yu as she spoke.
"The family head has many brothers. Namgung Hwa-u is just one of the more skilled among them. If the current head falls from power, all those brothers would be qualified to take his place. There's no young master, after all."
Only then did Namgung Hwi nod at her words.
That was true.
How could Namgung Hwa-u be the only one among the current head's brothers harboring ambitions for the family head position?
There were surely others hiding such desires deep in their hearts.
"Namgung Hwa-u will try to step forward himself, expose the family head's scandals, and drag him down by proving him unfit. But if we don't join his plan, it's nothing."
Namgung Hwi listened intently to Namgung Ji-yu's words.
"On the other hand, all we have to do is leave the clan. The Shadow Guards might come after us... but with Father and Ji-hu's skills, even they wouldn't be able to harm us."
It was sound reasoning.
Forgetting about revenge and simply leaving with the children to live quietly somewhere sounded pretty good.
"In the end, the one who's desperate is Namgung Hwa-u. There's no reason for Father to follow his lead."
Namgung Hwi nodded heavily at Namgung Ji-yu's words.
These were aspects he hadn't considered amid his thoughts about the children.
"So, what do you think we should do now?"
Namgung Ji-yu gave a sly smile at Namgung Hwi's question.
"We need to buy time. Until Namgung Hwa-u reveals his hand himself."
"Right. Let's do that."
Namgung Hwi nodded in agreement.
With that, their discussion about the future came to an end.
The three of them rose from their seats.
As they stepped out of the tavern, Ha Mu-baek was still waiting.
"Namgung Hwa-u told me to come find him tomorrow. What should we do?"
Ha Mu-baek asked.
"He's the desperate one, not us."
Ha Mu-baek smiled faintly and nodded at Namgung Ji-yu's response.
He thought the same.
Using even his own help to weave such a complicated scheme wasn't his style.
It would be easier to just crush it outright.
However, since he was merely a supporter and not directly involved, he had been respecting Namgung Hwi's decisions despite his inclinations.
"Once you've decided, let me know if you need any help."
With those words, Ha Mu-baek departed.
The three were left alone.
They moved to another location and resumed their discussion about what lay ahead.
And they shared the emotions of finally reuniting with blood kin for the first time in their lives.
Two days passed.
Namgung Hwa-u grew increasingly anxious.
He had assumed Namgung Hwi would surely come looking for him, but he hadn't.
"Hmm."
He sat alone in the inn, lost in thought.
For Namgung Hwi, Namgung Ji-hu, and Namgung Ji-yu—for their family—his proposal should have been the best possible offer.
Namgung Hwa-u reviewed everything again to see if he had overlooked something.
No matter how he thought about it, it was the optimal deal.
As he went over it once more, this time he tried considering it from Namgung Hwi's perspective.
Namgung Hwi hadn't said much, just listened.
But if he were Namgung Hwi receiving such a proposal, what would he do?
'...There was a variable.'
He finally spotted it.
The variables were Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu.
What did those two want?
If those two—no, if Namgung Ji-hu had no ambition for the family head position?
Then his proposal held no value at all.
They could just leave, and that would be that.
Reclaim the martial arts they had learned?
Having faced Namgung Hwi directly, Namgung Hwa-u could assert with certainty.
Impossible.
Even the Shadow Guards—he wasn't confident they could take down Namgung Hwi.
What if former experts stepped in?
Still no answer.
Ha Mu-baek.
That monster had declared he would help them.
"I was the desperate one."
Namgung Hwa-u muttered with a bitter expression.
He didn't know if Namgung Ji-hu harbored ambitions for the family head position or not.
That was the problem.
"And there are my brothers too..."
Namgung Hwa-u crossed his arms, deep in thought.
In the end, he stepped out of the room.
The desperate side had to move first.
And there was no time to waste.
'Ji-yu. It must be that kid's thinking.'
She was the only one among the three capable of such broad strategic thinking.
Inducing him to reveal himself as their biological father to Namgung Hwi had ended up tying his own feet.
Rushing ahead with ambition within reach had been a mistake.
'I'm still far from ready.'
He entered the Dragon Training Pavilion.
The gate guards already knew his identity, so they didn't stop him.
Thus, he headed toward Namgung Hwi.
He made for the Hidden Dragon Corps training grounds.
Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul had permitted his presence only until yesterday, but no one stopped him today either.
He hadn't found Namgung Hwi at the Fierce Dragon Corps training grounds.
Assuming he was still working as a laborer, and that Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu would be with the Hidden Dragon Corps, he turned that way.
Then, commotion reached him from afar.
"Hey, one-armed freak. What the hell are you doing here?"
It was Hwang Ryeok.
His face was flushed red, his bulging eyes glaring at Namgung Hwi.
Hwang Ryeok had just come from the laundry under orders from a superior.
It wasn't his usual job, but they'd dragged him there due to a shortage of hands.
That was fine.
He'd done laundry often enough as a new recruit.
But.
Even if it had been a while, the jabs from those around him had worn on his nerves.
"How's a big lug like you so damn slow? The clothes aren't even clean. That Nam Hwi guy does it fast and makes 'em look brand new."
It wasn't just one or two people.
He'd come to help, and all they had to say was that.
And comparing him to that one-armed cripple Nam Hwi.
What the hell did that loser know?
Taunting him by comparing him to that cripple.
His chest burned with rage.
He'd finished up at the laundry and headed to the Hidden Dragon Corps training grounds—his assigned area—only to find that cripple there.
The sight of him ignited his fury instantly.
Namgung Hwi, who had been cleaning around the Hidden Dragon Corps training grounds, looked at Hwang Ryeok amid the sudden confrontation.
Since that day.
This guy who had barely acknowledged his existence before was suddenly picking a fight.
"I'm cleaning the Hidden Dragon Corps training grounds."
"That's the point! Why the hell are you doing it? This is my area!"
Namgung Hwi frowned at those words.
The cleaning areas were divided.
If he'd cleaned Hwang Ryeok's section for him, shouldn't he be grateful?
Yet here he was, flying into a rage and starting trouble.
He hadn't even known whose area it was; he'd just done as Instructor Wi Ji-gun ordered.
"Instructor Wi told me to clean the Hidden Dragon Corps side too."
Namgung Hwi answered forthrightly.
"Hah."
Hwang Ryeok let out a deep sigh.
"Fuck. That old bastard. Does he think he's the pavilion lord or something?"
Hwang Ryeok, who couldn't even meet Wi Ji-gun's eyes directly, spat curses the moment he was gone.
Or was it because it was his assigned area?
Namgung Hwi frowned at the completely different attitude from when he'd seen him near the Fierce Dragon Corps grounds.
"Oh? Making faces now? Fuck, you cripple shit. What're you gonna do about it?"
Hwang Ryeok flipped the broom he held and prodded Namgung Hwi's chest with the handle end.
Poke. Poke.
Namgung Hwi watched from a distance, slightly hidden, curious how Namgung Hwi would respond to the laborer's mad antics. Even a pup doesn't fear a tiger.
"What? Gonna run to that old fart Wi and tattle? I'm the one right in front of you."
Poke. Poke again.
Namgung Hwi grimaced.
Last time, he'd held back.
He'd had to.
But did he have to now?
It didn't seem necessary.
He'd already found Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu anyway.
And they'd be leaving for Hefei soon.
Truth be told, there was no reason to keep working as a laborer here anymore.
It had just been convenient.
And it kept him close to the children, so he'd continued as before.
"Hey, Ryeok. What's going on?"
"Ah, young master. It's nothing. Just disciplining a crazy laborer."
At that moment, a third-year Hidden Dragon Corps disciple approached, recognizing Hwang Ryeok.
Hwang Ryeok had built rapport with the disciples while cleaning the Hidden Dragon Corps grounds.
That's why he'd blocked other laborers from cleaning there.
But spotting Namgung Hwi doing it now had enraged him.
Until now, their schedules hadn't overlapped since Namgung Hwi cleaned when Hwang Ryeok was elsewhere.
Today, their timings had clashed.
"Oh? A laborer causing trouble? It's your job, Ryeok, but want me to help?"
The third-year disciple slyly inserted himself.
His narrow, slitted eyes and thin lips seemed to reflect his personality.
"Heh heh. Why would a noble young master like you stoop to handling trash like this?"
Hwang Ryeok clasped his hands politely.
The third-year disciple.
Namgung Jin.
A collateral branch member of the Namgung Clan sent to the Dragon Training Pavilion.
He'd strutted around the Hidden Dragon Corps leveraging his clan background.
But last year, with Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu entering, things changed.
He was just another unremarkable collateral warrior now.
The halo of the Namgung Clan had faded.
Afterward, he still puffed out his chest where those two weren't around, but no one paid him proper mind.
As a result, his attention turned to the laborers.
He formed a gang with a few disciples in similar straits and carried on that way.
One he'd grown close to was Hwang Ryeok.
The guy was perceptive and amusing, so he'd kept him around usefully.
Today, he was picking a fight with some random laborer.
It looked fun, so he'd joined in.
Namgung Jin circled around Namgung Hwi.
"One arm, scars... Was there a laborer like this? What were they thinking at the pavilion, hiring trash like you? Tsk tsk."
Namgung Jin clicked his tongue.
Namgung Hwi stared at him steadily.
Deep, profound eyes.
The moment he met them, the moment he sensed the energy, he knew.
A Namgung Clan collateral, a warrior just like him.
But his attitude was worlds apart.
Was it because of guys like this that collaterals were looked down on?
The thought crossed his mind.
At that moment.
Sounds of people moving came from afar.
Disciples heading to the Devouring Dragon Pavilion after classes at the lecture hall.
Hidden Dragon Corps, Wa Dragon Corps, Fierce Dragon Corps.
Disciples of all sorts were walking along.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu were surely among them.
He recalled the last time.
He'd shown the pathetic sight of taking Hwang Ryeok's abuse right in front of the kids.
But now?
"Exactly, young master. Why'd they hire a cripple shit like this? All because of that crazy old man."
Hwang Ryeok poked at his chest again.
Namgung Hwi dropped the broom from his left hand.
And gripped the end of the broom prodding his chest.
Crack.
The handle turned to powder in an instant.
Namgung Hwi fixed Hwang Ryeok with cold eyes.
"Wh-what the hell?"
Hwang Ryeok stammered in shock at the sudden turn.
Step.
Namgung Hwi advanced, seizing Hwang Ryeok's right arm.
Crack.
"Arrrghhh!"
Hwang Ryeok screamed.
Immense pain flooded his right arm.
A single grip had snapped his arm.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Namgung Jin glared at him, frowning at being ignored as Namgung Hwi moved.
His robes fluttered slightly—he'd circulated his internal energy.
"If you have time for this nonsense, you should focus on your training."
Namgung Hwi said coldly, staring at Namgung Jin.
His left hand still held Hwang Ryeok's arm.
"What... what did you say? A mere cripple laborer daring to—!"
He shouted and tried to kick off the ground.
But Namgung Jin couldn't move, rooted like he'd been planted.
Instead.
"Uh... uhhh..."
He groaned, trembling all over.
Namgung Hwi had unleashed his energy, pressing Namgung Jin with killing intent.
"Wh-what is this..."
"The world is full of hidden masters. That's why you must always stay humble in the martial world. It's the key to a long life."
"Gahhh."
As those words ended, a storm of killing intent surged, and Namgung Jin rolled his eyes back, fainting.
His pants were soaked.
Hwang Ryeok saw it and shook violently.
He felt no pain now.
Only then did he realize what he'd done.
Namgung Hwi released Hwang Ryeok's arm.
Thud.
Hwang Ryeok collapsed flat.
"I-I failed to recognize a master and acted like lowly trash. P-please spare my life. I was wrong, so wrong."
Namgung Hwi chuckled at the sight.
Just as expected.
It was ridiculous that he'd revealed his energy against such a petty wretch.
But recalling the previous incident, he couldn't just let it go.
He lifted his foot and stomped on Hwang Ryeok's right hand, which lay flat on the ground.
"Guhhh."
"Look at this hand and always be careful."
Applying pressure, the bones in Hwang Ryeok's right hand shattered with a crunch.
He'd probably never use it properly again.
The man who'd called Namgung Hwi an arm-cripple had become a hand-cripple.
By then, the disciples arrived.
The Namgung siblings were among them.
They tilted their heads at the sight of Namgung Hwi and the two collapsed figures, but Namgung Hwi merely picked up his broom from the ground and walked on.
"Hah."
Namgung Hwa-u let out a hollow laugh at the scene.
It had been a mere instant, but the energy he'd revealed was tremendous.
He probably knew he was being watched, which made it even more so.
His mind grew complicated, wondering how exactly to ask for their help.